Being the amazing, true-to-life adventures and (very likely) misadventures of a writer who seeks to take his education, activism and seemingly boundless energy to North Minneapolis, (NoMi) to help with a process of turning a rapidly revitalizing neighborhood into something approaching Urban Utopia. I am here to be near my child. From 02/08 to 06/15 this blog pushed free speech to the envelope, so others could take heart and speak unafraid. Email me at hoffjohnw@gmail.com

Monday, July 27, 2009

New NoMi Homeowner Reception At Victory 44 Restaurant (BRING BACK THE CALAMARI!!!!)

Photos By John Hoff

John Riedlinger, pictured above, is closing on a house TODAY. But he can take $13,000 and just leave that money at home, not bringing it to today's closing, because his Realtor, Connie Nompelis, (pictured on the bottom, to the right) helped to line Riedlinger up with $13k from the Pohlad Foundation ($8k) and Willard Hay. ($5K)

John's new home is on Russell Ave. N. in Homewood. He is divorced and has two dogs...So it won't exactly be "divorced Daddyville," which is my way of describing single fathers getting great home deals in NoMi, as I did, but Riedlinger says he is "daddy" to the two dogs.

In the next photo, Alan Johnson and Rachel Gall, who purchased a house on Thomas Ave. N. in the Cleveland Neighborhood. They managed to get $10,000 in free money from the Minneapolis Advantage program, and then patiently jumped through numerous hoops to put together a 203K FHA rehab. This will mean a new roof, new electricity, new bathroom. Some of the hoops involved "proving their contractor is good."

Riedlinger, Johnson and Gall recently gathered at a "new NoMi homeowner reception" at the Victory 44 restaurant. State Senator Linda Higgins was there to great these new constituents. It was a lovely, perfect event...except that Victory 44 had taken the calamari off the menu because it reportedly "took up too much room in the fryer."

So everybody took a pile of chairs and set them on fire in protest, because this is NORTHSIDE, baby, and that's how we roll.

OK, that previous sentence was a joke, but I'm making my point, here, and I'm not the only one saying this though (once again) I'm pushed up toward the front of the crowd. BRING BACK THE CALAMARI! It was the best thing on the menu. Get a bigger fry basket or something, GEEZ!!!

What are you THINKING, Victory 44? Did you ask your CUSTOMERS, first?

Help me out, here. I want to like your restaurant and say nice things about it, and gather there with my friends for events which revolve around neighborhood revitalization. Help ME to help YOU.

Welcome to NoMi! I have been living in the Cleveland Neighborhood now for 8 years and love it! You must try the Burgers at Tooties on Lowry & too they are the best! If you like pasta and pizza Papa's on 4159 Thomas Ave N will do the trick!

Curfew Times

Who Is "Drunk Ronnie Ward And His Brother?" Who Are Tracy Crawford And L Jones?

Who is "drunk Ronnie Ward and his bro?" Were they involved in the shooting of little Terrell Mayes, Jr?

If you left this blog the following comment on August 8, 2012, more information is needed.

Anonymous said...re terrel mayes 22 cal n mpls accidentl murder.drunk ronnie ward and bro? talking wanna kill tom weist n b amy fo? later saying we were just looking for tracy crawford n L jones and argue who fired the 22 gun when one of them hit the house ,your shot did no your shot his shot must of i pointed a diff way ect.ronnie ward fired the shot or was present at the shooting scene .n give 1/2 reward money to pastor paul please rip n peace terrel mayes

The police have not been able to find the killer based on your information. They have looked into it. Please, more information is needed. I understand you want "Pastor Paul" to get half the reward money. Who is Pastor Paul?

Help JNS Blog Patrol For Violations Of The Level Three Sex Offender "Zip Code Moratorium"

Hennepin County has drawn a line in the sand and said no more supervised more Level Three Sex Offenders will be dumped by MN DOC in the 55411 and 55412 zip codes. North Minneapolis residents are watching for violations of this unilateral cease fire agreement. Here's how YOU can be involved in checking to make sure MN DOC doesn't violate our rights by dumping more than the allotted number of rabid dogs in our neighborhood. Click the link below.

7.) Lloyd, also spelled Loyd. (Click here for possible example) These spelling variations may, in fact, be two different crime families. JNS blog is still looking into that.

8.) Ferguson, including descendants of James Leon Ferguson such as "Jdawg" Ferguson) This family is linked to relatives with surname Slaughter, McCaskel, and Slaughter-McCaskel. The name may be spelled "McCaskill" sometimes.